Taking Care

Many people struggle to pay for health
care and prescriptions. If you have difficulty affording needed
services and medications, there are many available resources
that can provide significant relief. Here are a few of the most
common resources available.

Health Care Resources

Medicare

Medicare is a health insurance program for people age 65 or older, some
disabled people under age 65, and people of all ages with end-stage renal
disease (permanent kidney failure). Find out if you are eligible by visiting
www.medicare.gov.

Medicaid

Many uninsured people not eligible for Medicare can obtain medical coverage
through state-administered Medicaid programs. To learn
more about Medicaid, click here.

COBRA

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives some
individuals who lose their health benefits the ability to continue receiving
benefits for a limited period of time. You can become eligible due to job loss,
reduced hours at work, death, divorce and other events. You can find out
more
about COBRA here.

Medical Financial Aid

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) helps fund over 7,000
community health centers serving millions of uninsured and underinsured
Americans. Patients pay based on what they can afford for services such as
routine checkups, maternity care, immunizations, prescription drugs, and dental,
mental health and substance abuse care. To learn more about this program and
find the closest HHS-supported center, visit http://bphc.hrsa.gov.

Discounted Care

Many university teaching hospitals and dental schools operate clinics on a
sliding payment scale, so it is often worthwhile to check with the institutions
near you about discounted services.

Free Screenings

Many pharmacies, clinics and health organizations, such the National Kidney
Foundation and the American Academy of Dermatology, provide free screenings for
illnesses such as kidney disease, skin cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Patient Assistance Programs

Most pharmaceutical companies offer patient assistance programs (PAPs),
through which uninsured patients with limited incomes can access drugs they
couldn't otherwise afford. Ask your doctor, pharmacist or clinic how to proceed,
or visit Partnership for Prescription Assistance. An excellent resource for
anyone looking for more information about health care resources in the U.S. is
www.healthcare.gov.